Susan R. Henry - June 9, 1959 - November 25, 2004A long-time competitor and motivator in the sport is lost in Thanksgiving Day motorcycle accident.

Sue Henry has been a part of dog agility since the earliest days, beginning her training and participating in exhibitions of the sport while living in El Paso, Texas, under the direction of Sandra Davis, a co-organizer in forming USDAA in the mid-1980's. Sue moved to Dallas in the late 1980's and became a member of the Dallas Agility Working Group and one of sport's first judges after attending USDAA's first judging clinic in November 1989, stating, "everyone has worked hard to compete at a show -- they deserve my best effort to be impartial and attentive".

In 1989, she was the top ranked 12" competitor with her Miniature Schnauzer Callie, finishing 2nd overall in the Grand Prix of Dog Agility Championships (when all dogs competed against each other, regardless of height class).

Since that time her most accomplished dog has been her miniature schnauzer Terminator, earning the Silver Lifetime Achievement Award earlier this year. She won the Veterans Grand Prix in 2003.

In addition to a rigorous competitive schedule, Sue enjoyed a number of other interests from motorcycling and photography, to championing the cause for disabled children and kayaking.

Sue has served over the years as a supervising judge, certified measuring judge and course reviewer, and was to expand her role with USDAA going into 2005.

Certainly in Sue's legacy is her inquisitiveness and passion to understand why something is the way it is. While others might jump to conclusions feeling a wrong call had been made, Sue was busy listening and asking questions on someone else's behalf to seek out the truth to understand the situation. Sue had a strong sense of fair play that highlighted her career and her life. She was the epitomy of what good sportsmanship is all about.

Along with Sue's strong passion for competition, she had an equal passion for the sport to be fun for everyone. Fun was not defined by winning, but by a sense of fair play. While she took competition seriously, she never lost sight of what sport is about - developing relationships and enjoying the process of competition.

Competitors across the country have been a part of Sue's life, and her contribution of time and energy to the sport has benefitted all. We at USDAA extend our heartfelt sympathies to family and friends.